NCSL 2001 ANNUAL MEETING SUMMARY.

• Position: National Conference of State Legislatures

America's state legislators navigate through myriad important issues during each legislative session. And at the National Conference of State Legislatures' Annual Meeting, Aug. 11-15, all of those issues were discussed, analyzed and argued.

During the five-day meeting in San Antonio, more than 7,000 state legislators, staff and others exchanged ideas, discussed important public policy and took home new ideas for their states to consider in the months and years ahead. Lawmakers and legislative staff chose among mote than 160 sessions on such topics as energy, election reform, electronic commerce, state finances, prescription drugs, immigration and genetics.

"Navigating the Crosscurrents of America," the theme of the conference, highlighted the wide range of issues today's state lawmaker must take action on each year.

"The diversity of our nation--its culture, heritage, families, communities--is continually changing," said California Senator Jim Costa, NCSL's immediate past president. "There is simply no meeting like this one to prepare, inspire and energize state legislatures for the work ahead."

During the conference, lawmakers were given important national reports on election reform, distribution of tobacco settlement money and an update on how the changing economy is affecting state budgets.

NCSL's 2001 Annual Meeting also attracted national public policy experts, members of Congress and top administration officials. EDS Chairman Dick Brown provided his insights to delegates about the digital economy.

The nation's legislators also adopted policy resolutions during the meeting, approving measures concerning energy, agriculture, faith-based services, election reform, cell phone usage and e-commerce issues, among others.

NCSL Executive Director William Pound said the annual gathering of state lawmakers, the largest of its kind, plays a significant role in helping legislatures establish programs and policies to address the various needs of their constituents.

"As the forum for America's ideas, NCSL's Annual Meeting provides legislators with an opportunity to develop local solutions to national problems. Often policies implemented by today's state legislatures are the policies debated by tomorrow's Congress," Pound said.

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